SOUTHBY

Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The city of Montego Bay, St. James, is now mourning the loss of one of its business stalwarts, Maxwell 'Max' Southby, who contributed much through his work with the Rotary Club of Montego Bay.

The real estate giant passed away on March 3 at the University Hospital of the West Indies in St. Andrew, after ailing for some time.

Fellow Rotarian, George Palmer, told The Gleaner that Mr. Southby served unselfishly and described him as "a philanthropist".

"He was more concerned about others and their welfare than himself," Mr. Palmer said. "After his father died, he created a scholarship fund for needy students."

Great contribution

He recalls that his friend made a great contribution to residents in western Jamaica in the areas of education and health.

Mr. Southby, a Cornwall College past student, was born in Montego Bay on June 24, 1943, to Herbert and Dorothy Southby.

He studied law before being ushered into his father's real estate business.

Mr. Southby became a Rotarian in 1986 and took on the post of president in 1995.

Everton Anderson, chief executive officer at the Cornwall Regional Hospital, who was closely connected to Mr. Southby, remembers his friend as a man who "gave great service to the institution and was consistent in terms of his efforts at volunteerism".

Member

Mr. Southby was a founding member of theGeorgian Society of Jamaica; an active member of the St. James Lay Magistrates' Association; served as assistant district governor in charge of the Rotary clubs in western Jamaica between 2002 and 2005; also served on a subcommittee of the Western Regional Health Authority for six years, and was a member of the Cornwall Regional Hospital's management committee.

Mr. Southby was a member of the Governor-General's Achievement Awards committee for St. James.

"He was the kind of person who held out his hand to help persons in need," recalled his wife Eileen.